We are a dedicated team of builders, educators, and practitioners united by a shared belief: that craft education can — and must — be reimagined.
We care deeply about the transmission of real skill, the dignity of working with one’s hands, and the integration of thinking and doing. The Perth Academy of Building Arts & Science is our attempt to build a new kind of place for learning and making that takes these ideas seriously — one that combines heritage craft, modern science, and practical experience into a coherent, living model of education.
Leadership
The Academy is led by Toby Shannan, a Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former technology executive best known for his leadership at Shopify. His background in building organizations and systems is matched by a long-standing commitment to craft, community, and place. Under his leadership, The Perth Academy of Building Arts & Science brings together tradespeople, scholars, and operators to create something both rooted and new: a school designed not just to teach, but to endure.
